Slack adjuster for brakes



Sept. 30, 1952 v H. A. MOELLER 'E1-AL 2,612,240

sLAcK ADJUSTER FOR BRAKES 5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed Nov. 29, 194a um .Vsntrnd n, u E 0 M H. A. MOELLER ET A1. 2,612,240

Q sLAcK ADJUSTER FOR BRAKES Sept. 30, 1952 A5 Sheets-Sheety 2 Filed NOV. 29', 41948 Sept. 30, 1952 H. A. MOELLER ErAL f 2,612,240

sLAcK ADJUSTER FOR BRAKES Filed Nov. 29. 1948- I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i., l l -fir rw um w m., m

M @MM Sept. 30, 1952 H. A. MOELLER ET AL sLAcx ADJUSTER FOR BRAKES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 n IIIIIIIIW: "HIIIIIIII uml I I.. f |Ig.

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l www Sept. 30, 1952 H. A. Mol-:LLER ET AL 2,612,240'

- sLAcK ADJUSTER FOR BRAKES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 SLACKADJUSTER non BRAKES Harry A. Moeller and Claude L. Orr, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus Ohio Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,543

(Cl. 18S-56) s claims.

The present invention relates to railway brake systems and more specifically pertains to the mounting of automatic slack' adjusters on the resiliently supported bolster of a railway car truck and the invention includes a novel connection between the slack adjuster and the brake rigging So as to permit horizontal and vertical angling movements relative to the dead end fulcrum bars of the brake lever system of a beam extending between the fulcrum bars and connected to the slack adjusters on opposite sides of the truck.

A previous development in railway brakes has been to mount the brake cylinders on the railway trucks. When an automatic slack adjuster is employed in connection with the brake system to shorten the brake cylinder piston travel and arrange the brake shoes nearer the wheels, the automatic slack adjuster has been mounted on the brake cylinder itself or on one of the side frame members of the truck.

An obj ect of the present invention is to mount the slack adjuster on a bracket carried by the bolster of the truck andto arrange the automatic slack adjuster inwardly of the line of the brake lever system to thereby position the slack adjuster inwardly of the wheels to thereby avoid the projection at the sides of the truck frames and to provide a mounting for the slackadjuster facilitating the coupling of this mechanism with the brake rigging.

Another object of the invention is to mount an automatic slack adjuster for the brake linkage system so as vto be supported by the bolster of a railway car truck and in such a position that the automatic slack adjuster is arranged adjacent the dead end of the brake lever system and thereby simplifying the connection of the slack adjuster with the brake linkage.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a connection between, a .transverse beam forming a part of the brake system and cooperating with the automatic slack adjusters, and the -dead end fulcrum bars permitting horizontal angling movement of thev beam relative to each fulcrum bar to thereby accommodate the brake linkage to conditions of lunequal wear of the brake shoes at each side of the railway truck.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a connection between the transverse brake beam and the dead end fulcrum bars of the brake rigging which will permit vertical angling movement of the beam with reference to each fulcrum bar and thereby permit the automatic slack adjuster to be mounted on a bracket extension of thebolster system movable vertically in accordance with the resiliently supported bolster without impairing the operation vof the brake system.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description andthe annexed drawings, wherein an exemplary embodiment of the inven tion is disclosed and two typical connections are shown and described between the dead end portion of the brake rigging and the transverse beam which is moved automatically by the slack adjuster.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a railway car truck of the equalized type and showing a portion of the brake rigging.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of the railway car truck showing a mounting of the automatic slack adjuster in relation to brake rigging and exhibiting` the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical Sectional view taken on the center line of the truck.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the slack adjuster Showing another type of connection bee tween the beam and the dead end fulcrum bar of the brake rigging. i

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the modication shown inFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a'block employed in the connection of the brake rigging.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the slack adjuster mechanisms at both sides of the truck. j

In carrying out the present invention an automatic slack adjuster'oi' the type which is well known in the railway brake art is adapted to be mounted on a bracket or an extension forming an integral part of the bolster system of a railway car truck. The mounting of the automatic slack adjuster inwardly of the plane of the wheels of the truck facilitates connection of the slack adn juster with the dead end of the brake linkage assembly and at the same time positions the slack adjusters within the side frames to avoid projections laterally of the truck. It will be understood that a slack adjuster is arranged at each side of the railway car and two automatic slack adjusters are carried by bracket extensions of the bolster. In the drawings one Side of the railway `truck at theldead end of the brake System is shown in Figs. 1 and-2. It will be understood that a similar mounting is provided at Vthe opposite side of the truck (Figs. 3 and 7) for supporting an automatic slack adjuster which is connected to the horizontal transverse beam which forms part of the brake rigging at the dead end portion of the brake system.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown at l a transverse bolster which extends across the truck andv is supported on helical springs `Il which rest on the truck frames; The bolster system includes two of such transverse bolsters I0 and a center bolster for use in six or eight- 4 by the slack adjusters at opposite sides of the truck, a support 32 is provided in the form of a bracket mounted on the bolster extensions I4. A similar support 33 is mounted adjacent the slack adjuster I8. Each of these supports includes a horizontal upper portion 34 and an angular reinforcing portion and an end portion 3 6 which" is bolted or otherwise securedf to the face plate i6.' The upper horizontal portions of the brackets 32 and 33 support the ends of the beam 3l and thereby relieve the arm por- Wheel type equalized trucks and whichjare well 1 y known in the art. It will be understood that al unit bolster or the three-piece'type of bolster v system may be employed in connection with suchy equalizer type trucks andthe present invention provides a mounting of the; slack adjusters, onv

brackets carried by either of such bolster structures. The bolster system as represented# byv one of the transverse bolsters ID includes a center bolster l-ZT which carriesa bracketor anv extension |54' integral therewith, asv shown particularly' in Fig. 2. This bracket. I4' is provided with an end' plate |6` having openings or the. like through which bolts may extend. to support .anv

automatic slack adjuster l1. in` a; rigid manner onthe bolster system. A similar' slackY adjuster |81 ismounted on a bracket. I4 carried. by the bolster at thef other side of the truck, as illustrated'- in Fig. 7. The'slack adjusters are thereby mounted. iny position 'msid'e of the. wheels I9: and

201 andi arranged` inwardly ofi the. brake leverI systems. as.v will be. evident: upon. consideration of Figs. 2`and 7.

The slack adjusters may be of a conventional type such as furnished by the? WestinghouseAir BrakeH Company, and include an end plate 2l which may. be bolted/ or otherwise secured to the end plate l 6-of the bracketl I4: and thereby maintain theslackadjuster in a substantially horizontal position with. reference to the bolster. The slack adjusters. each include spaced arms 22v and 23 extending. from. the. end plate 2l` soas to provide aspace 24 therebetweem as shown-.in Fig..3. The automatic slack adjusterfmechanism isV mounted within. a casing- 25". and is of thetype which serves-to moveva screw: 2'6 towards the left in Fig. 3 when. the brake shoes have Worn sufciently to require an adjustmentof.A the brake linkage for positioning thel brake. shoes. closer to the wheels. The automatic.; slack adjusters eachl include-within the. casing: 215;.a piston (not shown) which is. movedi by air:l from"y the brake cylinder when a port; in the. brake. cylinder is uncovered as aresultoff undesiredI piston travel4 in the brake cylinder when applying the brakes.- The slackl adjuster thenY automatically functions to move the screw 23 to the: left4 for adjusting.

the position of they brake shoes nearer. the wheels wherebythe succeeding brake applying loperation of the brake cylinder. will not require anf. overextendedmovement ofthel piston in the brake cylinder. The screw4 26. carries a. pair of ears through whicha pin121 extends.: These ears are; guided'f or longitudinal movem-entzingrooves; (not shown provided" in the arms 2z and: 232otheA slack'iadjust'er.

In carrying out :the present invention; 2;.;.transverse-beamV 3iI-L isarrangedto extend across. the truck and is. connected to the-.brakeV rigging'at each sideoffthe chassis. This'beamsl terminates` inwardly of the Wheelsatf'opposite' sidesl ofthe truck and extends through the spaceZI-libetweenl the arms1of' the slack adjusters'.. order; to avoid' the entirefload'. ofrlthe beam: being. carried tions.22.-ofv the slack adjusters of the load of the beam. "The beam 3| is provided adjacent each end withanpopening through which pins 21 extend toit-'hereby' connect the end portions of the-beam?! i'tothelslack adjusters.

The beam-Sf/carries a trunnion 3l at each end thereof and this trunnion may be cylindrical shaped, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The diameter of the trunnion 31 is desirable larger than the vertical thickness;A of; .the beam Szl., Thea end plate 2| provided atlthe; ends of; the arms 22; and 23 of each slack adjusterii's provided with a' slot 4i] of such dimensions.V` that theV beamf 3l: may be moved` into the spatial-4 bie-tween the; armsofthe adjuster even ythough the; trunnion. is` ofv greater diameter: than. the dimensions of this space. The trunnion. 35i' extends; throughv an opening; 38- in the: dead end fulcrun'r bar 3.9 and the opening. 38 ofzlarger diameter than the cross-sectional dimensions of the trunnionv 3l. The purpose of this structural arrangementwillbe more evident as the.. present disclosure proceeds. A` similar; connection provided. between the other end oifthef beamf 3:| and the dead; end: fulcrum bar 35; at the-opposite side.` of: the truck. The. ends of. the; beam`4 311 are; thereby connectedtothe inner ends.: of: thefdead end` fulcrumbars of the brake rigging..-1Ther; braking force'A actingf betweenthe beam 3l and thev` fulcrum; bars 35: and 39 is transmitted. throughthetrunnionsl'. The relatively large-op`eningp38 per-mitshorizontal angular adjustment; of.; the.` beamV 35|." across the truck Which-is likely' to. occur: as the result of unequalwear of the. brake -partson opposite sides*v r versafboisteniz. The pistonrod 42 of.` the. brake cylinder: is .connected byfmeansofa. leven 43- toth av pull` rod-.onbarz 44'., .If an additional brake.- cylinder vismounted at. thi-siside of .thea truck the-f piston thereofr may bef-connectedtothe;1:iull;roci.I lillV so: that the: brakeycylinders. thenoperate; in series to actuatefithelfbrakes; at. onec'siderof the: truck through a.c'onventionalzbrakerleven system; which. includeszbrake shoes. 46;: and.' 4.7i which are: moved. into'. positimifby.-r actuation. of the. linkage system. shown.: generally at: 48: toV the? rightzin.1 Fig. ,2. A .similarrbrake arrangementiaproyided: at the; other: side of the: truck whiclr includes.` brake shoes 50'. and:.5`l. and'a brakecleversystem: shown generally at 53.

A modified. connection betweenY tneftransverse beamV and; the.l dead'. end.Y fulcrum bars isshownf in Figs.. 4 and: 5%'. and this- Iconnectionf does not: require. cutting.` of-thefend: plate `2+ of; theautomatimslack adjusters; Theenmplatezilafof this. modificationl extends;- comnletelyfV acrossfthe; ends.;

rconside'rationof Fig. 5. 1

A mechanisms inwardly of the'arms 22 and 23 as will'be apparent upon The slack adjuster I-'l is otherwise unchanged and is of the type to move the beam 3Ia to the left, in Fig. 4, when this mechanism automaticallyv functions for the purpose of moving the brake shoes. closer to the wheels and to thereby takeup slackfresultingf from the wear of the brakes. In'this construction the beam'3ia is provided` wit-h an opening .adjacent e-ach end which receives ,the pin 21 Vofthe slack adjuster mechanism. .Outward of the slack adjuster arms 22 and 23 eachend of the beam is connected Iby a pin 5|.'tothe. inner end of-the dead end ful.-

crum bar 39a of the brake rigging. The brakingforce acting between the beam 3Ia and the fulcrum .bar 39a is transmitted throng-ha block52 havingv astraight edge lportion 53, as will be apparent.l from consideration of Figs. 4 and 6. This straight edge 53 on the block 52 cooperates with astraight surface 54 forming the edge of the beam.3ia. The block 52 is also provided with ai convex surface 5B which cooperates with a concavesurface 51 formed between the ears 5| and 62 ofthe dead end fulcrum bar 39a., Thesefsurfa-ces are provided to accommodate an angular position of the beam 3 laacross the truck which may occur as a result of unequal wear of. the brak-e parts on opposite sides of the truck and theresulting automatically but unequal action of the slack adjusters. at `opposite si-des of the truck. It will be observedrfrom a consideration .of Fig. 5 that the edge portionv 54 of the earn v31a is convex shaped in vertical section and a cooperating portion of the block 52 is concave shape in vertical section so as to accommodate relative vertical angling movement between the beam 3|a and the dead en-d fulcrum bar 39a. This angling movement takes place because the beam 3la is carried by the spring supported bolster system, whereas the dead end fulcrum bar is connected to the unsprung part of the truck side frame member 1l as shown in Fig. 2. It will be further observed that the hole 65 provided in the end of the beam 3m for receiving the pin' 5| is larger in diameter than the pin 5I.J'The inner surfaces 61 land'iiii of the ears formed .at the end of the dead end fulcrum bar 39a also slope outwardly in proceeding to the right'in Fig. 5 to accommodate any relative vertical movement between the fulcrum bar and the beam 3 la due to spring deflection.

It will be evident that the slack `adjuster mounting as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar in operation to that shown and described in e011-, Iiection with Figs. 1 to 3 and the beam 3 la moves to the left in Figs. 4 and 5 when adjustment of the slack in the brake lever system takes place. The mounting of the slack adjusters in this embodiment is such as to likewise position these of the wheels and each slack adjuster is carried by the bracket I4 forming a part of the unit bolster or one of the center bolster parts of a three-unit bolster assembly.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specific structural details, it will be .appreciated that changes may be made in the general organization and in the various structural features of the combination. Such changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A mounting for a brake slack adjuster on a railway-cartruck comprising, a bolsterv resi1` iently supported on side frames ofrthe truck, a

movement of the beam with reference to the fulcrum bar and vertical movementof the beam relative to the fulcrum bar.l

i 2. Amounting for azrailway brake slack ad juster comprising, a railway car truck including si-de `frames, a bolster resiliently.- supported on side frames, a .bracket extending lengthwise of the truck from. the bolster, av slack adjuster mechanism including two spa-ced arms rigidly secured to said bracket, a beam arranged transversely of the truck and extending between said spaced arms, means connecting the beam vto the slack adjuster ,mechanism a support for the beam .adjacent the slack adjuster arms, Va dead end `fulcrum bar forming a part of a brake rigging ior 'the truck, andmeans connecting -the end of the beam to the fulcrum'bar so as to accommodate horizontal angling movement of the beam with reference to the fulcrum bar and vertical movement-of the beam relative vto the fulcrum bar. v f

3. AA mounting for a railway brake slack a-djuster on a railway-cartru-ckcomprising, side vframes for the truck,'a bolster resiliently supported on said side frames, -a bracket integr-a1 withfthel bolster, a slack adjuster mechanism truck and Vextemiing between said spaced armsy means connecting the beam tothe slack adjuster mechanism, a' dead end fulcrum b-ar forming ya part of a brake rigging for thetruck, a trunnion carried by the end of the beam, a dead end fulcrum4 bar'forming a part of .a brake rigging for the railway car truck, and said fulcrum bar having a circular opening therein for receiving the trunnion and being of a larger diameter than the trunnion.

4. A mounting for la slack adjuster for the brake lever system of a railway car truck comprising, side frames for the truck, a bolster resiliently supported on said side frames, .a bracket extending lengthwise of the truck from the bols ster, a slack vadjuster mechanism including two spaced arms rigidly secured to said bracket, a beam arranged transversely of the truck extend- I'ing between said spaced arms, means for connecting the beam to the slack adjuster mechanism, a dead end fulcrum bar forming a part of -a brake rigging for the truck, a trunnion carried by the end of the beam, a dead end fulcrum bar forming a part of a brake rigging, said fulcrum bar having a circular opening therein receiving the trunnion and having a diameter larger than the trunnion, and means carried by said bracket supporting the beam adjacent the slack adjuster.

5. A mounting for ya railway brake slack adjuster on a railway car truck comprising, side frames for the truck, a bolster resiliently supported on said side frames, a bracket carried by agaragee the; bolsten. ai slack'adjuster xne'clienism:Ainsind-r ingl tw spaced Y arms; rigidly' secured` to said.: brackenza bearrr arrangedl transversely of the; truck' and extending; between said?. spaced arms.; means' connectingrthe. heamt to theslackadiusterf merzhanism, ad dead: end fulcrum. ban fbrmng av parti of: ax brake: rigging'fon' th'esruck; spaced; ears; carried: by' said fulcrum. bar,. inner surfaeesaoff.' said: ears-i divergingoutwardly7 im proceeding' tn'-x wardk the :1 free; end ot the: ears; a. convex. edge onu said beam. extending; between. the. earsz om thei fulerum-bam; abiockraa'rangedzbetween; theey earsd a:vcornzraxre';surfaceT on the blh'ck: for? engaging.' thea convex. edge' ofthe beazmlai'funtirer aonvex sur'-` face: :on: thee block; cooperating; wtla ai. eoncav surface: formedinthe" fuicrmn' bar,.a;pirr`texrdeing through the ears andthes beaannandlsaidlpini beingr'o. smallen diameter: than openings?. in the, eaxszamhimthebeam forfthezpinz;

6. In: ai brakefsystemzfor'aaralway: side.A framesfor: the: e; holstersr nesilientiy supported on said si'de'zframes,.abrackeirearriefh by' thei bolster, a, slackf adjusten' mechanism: 111:-, cluding twoz spaced arms, aeface: plate; earriexh by' said: braclnei'f,y means-securing.: said arms-:tw saidy face plate;` a beam; arrangedtransyersely of; the.: truck and extending between: said: spaeedi arma. means;connectingzthefbeamlto;the:slaokzadjusterf mechanism, ai dead end: fulcnuim bar" forming a,

part of:abrakergginggforthe;trucksnaced ears:

carried; byf the end: of saidlfuicrum bar. inner surfaces; of saidearssdivereng o utwardiy:r in.` nro needing: towardthe freeendioi the ears,v azoonvex: surface forming; 1a.'. straight, edge of. said; beam; 'a block arranged between the ears.. americane? surfacefon they block: engaging thee com/exa surfacie of the: beam, aiconvezs` swfacevon the block cooperating; Withz am adjacent4 concavesnriacze.` fonnedf'between the, ears: of the fulcrum ban, a pinz extendingthrough. the ears-and thefbeann. and: said pin`I bengfo smaller. cross section; than. openings for: thefpin inthebars andthe beams 'ILA slack-adjuster: andA brake, beam assembly! fon a railway can truckcomprisinggaside frame at each. side. of the. truck af. bolster nesiliently supported on: said side; frames, wheels; at: opnosite: sides of! the truck, `a.;slae1`e adjnstnmecha nisnr rigidly supported 1li/,the borsteny inboardoi that wheels attonescle' offthetriuck, .azsecondislack adjuster mechanism rigidly:supportedaby'thebolff sten inboard; of' the;- wheels ati the` other.' side' of the! truck; a: horizontal: beamM arranged trans:-

Y verse'ly: of; the: truck: spanning: said slacle'- adiuster mechanisms', means connecting. saidbeam' to both: slack; adjuster; mechanisms; a. brake. lever: rigging.' arrangediinboard' of: the Wheelszat on'eside' of thea truck; and' positioned: outho'amd: ofi the. .associated .f slack adjuster'me'chansmgimeans. connectng'thef beam? to; sai-d brake liever rigging, ai brake leven rigging.' arrazngedY inbolardn of.. the wheels; at; therl otflieirsideofcth-e truck .andiontbnardbf tlietasscr-r ciat'ed: slaickf` adjuster nzuechanism;` and means? `erin'nfe'ctirrg the' beam'. to: the secondi` brake: lever rigging."` s

8.. Ima railway! brakalsystema fon a railwaycan truck. including side' frames; .a bnl'sterresiliently supported onL said;- side;l frames; two.` brackets.l exi--t tending lengthwise: of. thestruckzfmmthe: bolster.; aa-slack 'adjusten meelianisneinnludingtwo, spaced; arms*` rigidly.' secured to one` ofi said?` brackets-az second slack adjuster: mechanism, including two spaced.v arms: rigdly'seeured to: the: other' ofssaid;

brackets; eli/horizontal beam arranged transf versely, of: the truck exten-ding between;l and.l be'- yond. the spacedv armsz of; one slack'. adust'er: mechanism and'` between` and'I beyondl the4 spaceda-rms': of: timeother slack` adiusterf mechanism..

I meansieonne'cting;'saicheanrto -eachioffsadzslack adj uster: mechanisms. as brake rigging: including; adea'dgend ful-crumbarsat one side'of the-truck; ai brake ri'ggingfincluding afdead'end fulcrum bar' nect'mg the: ends: o-f saidA beams: to: thafulcrum` Number Name. Date, r

2,11827'53 Blaselt, May, 24;1938'- 2,343,941 Tack lidar:` 14;,1944 224721169, lY/IuellerY .lime '7; 1949." 

